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RMIT’s urban research centre launch new transport community group

The Victorian State Government has committed to a number of major infrastructure projects for the state, but what’s the plan for Melbourne transport and how do these projects fit in?

The forum, ‘Transport for Melbourne: What’s the Plan’ hosted by the RMIT Centre for Urban Research (CUR) in collaboration with Transport for Melbourne (TfM), aimed to discuss just that with Melbourne’s commuters.

Chaired by renowned planning academic Professor Michael Buxton, the evening brought together community members, transport academics and industry professionals from RMIT, Monash, University of Melbourne, Australian Conservation Foundation, Rail Futures, Victorian Transport Action Group, Public Transport Users Association and Town and Country Planning Association to promote a better understanding of fundamental transport issues facing Melbourne.

CUR Director Professor Jago Dodson said that a city of eight million will not be liveable without a shift in transport planning towards modes of travel and infrastructure that take up less space and move more people.

“To make this shift we need institutions that are capable of adapting to the future of Melbourne, not simply extending business as usual,” he said.

Professor of Public Transport at Monash University Graham Currie said that there is a need to move away from single large “trophy” infrastructure projects that benefit the few towards a systemic policy that addresses the needs of the many.

“We have a significant opportunity to create a world class transport system in Melbourne but a focus on politically motivated ‘trophy’ projects will do little to address the long standing systemic problems we face into the future,” he said.

Launching the new community group’s charter, Chair of TfM Roger Taylor said that community advocacy groups need to be strong in agreement on what is vital for a Melbourne transport plan and its aims.

“Traditionally governments have relied on their departments for policy and professional advice – yet now we see them increasingly looking to outside organisations for advice and the delivery of services,” he said.

“This is why a unified community voice that reflects the interests and needs of the public is important, and requires broad community support if government is to listen and take us seriously.”

TfM President and Former Professor in Urban and Environmental Planning at University of Melbourne Nicholas Low agreed.

“The time is overdue for all the relevant and overlapping advocacy groups to come together to set agreed priorities to push government for a best practice integrated and efficient transport network in Melbourne,” he said.

Transport for Melbourne is a small think tank and advocacy group of transport professionals promoting a better understanding of Melbourne’s transport issues and how they can be better addressed by applying lessons learnt from other cities to become models of international best practice.

In order to change current transport planning thinking as a unified community, Transport for Melbourne proposes:

We need to think differently about transport – i.e. as a whole system that is an integral part of a city plan

The Centre for Urban Research (CUR) at RMIT University seeks highly capable scholars to undertake PhD studies on urban issues.

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RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.